Fresh start

Sunday

Mar 30, 2008 at 12:01 AMMar 31, 2008 at 2:17 PM

My quick take: The Crew outplayed Toronto FC yesterday but, in hindsight, might have been lucky to come out a 2-0 winner. Toronto made nothing of its ample opportunities and looked much like it did during a last-place finish last season. Still, a win is a win, and yesterday’s result probably did more for the confidence of the Crew than for any other opening-day victors.

Also notable yesterday:

--The stadium observed a moment of silence for Crew fan Jim Nelson, who died earlier this month in an accidental fall. I never met Nelson, but from what I understand there were few Crew fans more dedicated than him. That the club also held a wake in the Huntington Club speaks to how much this club seems to care about its fans. Classy stuff.

--I was thoroughly impressed with the Toronto supporters. The banner being pulled above the stadium (“Come on you reds,” it read) was impressive, as were their sheer numbers and well-lubricated good nature. This weekend, they showed why they are without question the best fans in MLS.

--Equally impressive was the Crew supporters’ section. Although their numbers were dwarfed by the TFC contingent the rowdies in the northeast corner put on the best show of home support I’ve seen since I’ve been covering this team. It was noticed by players and coaches. “It was an awesome atmosphere,” Crew keeper Will Hesmer said. “Our fans really rose to the challenge. Honestly, when I was at the (north end) next to our fans, I had a harder time talking. The backline couldn’t hear me at all. They were actually louder than the Toronto fans.” I think part of that is because sound in that end seems to echo off the stage superstructure.

--Hesmer wasn’t impressed with the insults TFC fans hurled at him when he was in the south end. “It was your typical ‘you suck’ or ‘who are you?’ Nothing creative. Last time, they were creative.”

-- Alejandro Moreno was fairly subdued in the locker room. “We’ve got 29 more games to go, but it’s one step forward and it’s three points we needed to get. It’s much better to say ‘this is what we’re supposed to do’ than to try to make excuses for why we didn’t get the results.” Of the return to a formation with three attacking mids behind him, he said “it seems to suit the style of some of the players. It lets Guillermo do the things he wants to do on the field. For me, it’s a lot of work, a lot of runs that are not going to be rewarded. But in the end, it’s what the team needs. I’m comfortable with the way we’re playing and we’re confident in what we’re doing. That goes a long way.”